Edward howe



(No Model.)

E. HOWE.

GAR GOUPLING. No. 326,741. Patented Sept. 22,1885.

MF?! v Tins. Pnmwumompw. wma-gum. u4 c ED\VARD HOXVE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF THREEFOURTHS TO MARTIN SCI-IOLL, JR., OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,741, dated September 22, 1885.

(No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD Hown, of Detroit, in the county of Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and novel improvements in car-couplers; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction of the draw-head and coupling-hooks, whereby all necessary vertical play to the parts is obtained for coupling with cars of varying height, such vertical play not being limited by the closed mouth of the. draw-head; in the peculiar construction of the couplinghooks, and in the construction, arrangement, and combinations ofthe parts, all as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Figure l is a perspective view of two of my improved devices uncoupled. Fig. 2 is aplan view with one coupler in horizontal section, and showing parts engaged. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the stirrup and dog for securing the uncoupling chain or cable.

In the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification, A A represent two draw-heads designed to be attached to the cars B in any ofthe known ways. These draw-heads being duplicates of each other, I will confine my further description to but one. The draw-head A is provided with a throat or mouth, a., one side wall of which is cut away, as shown, so as to allow of a free and extended lateral sweep of the coupling-bar B, which is pivotally secured within the drawhead by means of a pin, Z). The inwardlyprojecting end O of the coupling-bar has interposed between it and the side wall of the draw-head a spring, D, for retaining the hook in a position to couple with the head ofan approaching car and to retain it in such coupled position, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The outer end of the coupling-bar is provided with a hook-shaped head, E, which is designed to engage with the vertical hookilange F upon the side of the draw-head. Near one corner of the car, and preferably on the bottom thereof, I secure a pulley-block, G, around which a cable or chain, H, passes,

one end of which is secured to the sheave I, while the opposite end passes through a stirrup, J, suspended from the opposite corner ofthe car. The sheave I is connected to the coupling-hook by a cable, K. L is a short cable or chain, the inner edge of which is secured to the cable H, while its outer end passes through a stirrup, J. It will readily be seen that by pulling upon the free end of either of the cables H or L the couplinghook can easily be disengaged from the ange of the opposite head, and each of the stirrups J J is provided with a gravity-dog, N, designed to grip the chain or cable and hold the coupling-hooks in such position that they will not couple when coming together. Vhen the coupling-hooks are in the position shown in Fig. l, and two cars come together, the faces of the hooks slide upon the curved faces ofthe opposing Yflanges until the hooks pass beyond suth lianges, when the action of the springs compels an engagement of the parts, and the two cars are coupled together. The Vertical area or length of the flanges upon the heads affords means for all necessary vertical play and facilitates the coupling with cars of varying height, and such vertical play is not limited by the contractions of the throat, as all the vertical adjustment or play is provided for outside the head.

If desired, pin-holes c may be made in the head, so that the head may be coupled with an ordinary link-and-pin coupling.

Vhat I claim as my invention is- I. In a car-coupling, the head A, having dange F, and the coupler-bar B, provided with the hook E, combined with the pulley G, sheave I, and cables H K L, and stil-rups J J, all arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes specified.

2. In a ear-coupler, the combination of the head A, coupler-bar B, provided with the hook E, spring D, ang'e F, pulley G, sheave I, cables H, K, and L, and stirrups J J', provided with the gravity-dogs N, all combined and operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes specied.

EDWARD HOVE.

Witnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, E. J. SoULLY. 

